The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The Panthers athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)[2] and competes at the NCAA Division I[3] level in the Football Championship Subdivision. EIU's colors are blue and gray. Selected as the team mascot in 1930, EIU's panther was informally known as "Billy" for many years and was officially named "Billy the Panther" in 2008.[4] Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports.[5] The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.[6]
| Eastern Illinois Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Eastern Illinois University |
| Conference | Ohio Valley Conference (primary) Summit League (Swimming & diving) Horizon League (Men's tennis) |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Tom Michael |
| Location | Charleston, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 21 (10 men's and 11 women's) |
| Football stadium | O’Brien Field |
| Basketball arena | Lantz Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Coaches Stadium at Monier Field |
| Softball stadium | Williams Field |
| Soccer stadium | Lakeside Soccer Field |
| Mascot | Billy the Panther |
| Nickname | Panthers |
| Fight song | Eastern State March |
| Colors | Blue and gray[1] |
| Website | www |
 | |
History
Eastern Illinois athletics began in the school's very first year, with the inaugural football team taking the field only three weeks after the first students arrived on campus in 1899.[7]
Eastern Illinois was a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1912 to 1970. From 1978 to 1982 they were members of the Mid-Continent Athletic Association which was absorbed by the Association of Mid-Continent Universities later known as the Mid-Continent Conference now the Summit League till 1996. In 1996 they joined the Ohio Valley Conference which is their current conference.
A member of the Ohio Valley Conference since 1996, Eastern Illinois University sponsors teams in ten men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[8] The Panthers' men's and women's swimming teams compete as associate members of the Summit League since those sports are not sponsored by the OVC. The men's soccer team also competed in the Summit League before the OVC launched a men's soccer league for the 2023 season (2023–24 school year). The OVC merged its men's tennis league into that of the Horizon League after the 2021–22 school year, with all OVC teams in that sport, including Eastern Illinois, becoming Horizon associates.[9]
Sports sponsored
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Beach volleyball |
| Cross country | Cross Country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Swimming and diving | Swimming and diving |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track and field† | Track and field† |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Baseball
- 1973 NCAA Division II World Series Third Place.
- 1978 NCAA Division II World Series Fifth Place.
- 1981 NCAA Division II World Series Runner-Up.[10]
The Panther baseball team has appeared in three NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, in 1999, 2008, and 2023.
Basketball
Men's basketball
- NAIA tournament appearances (6) 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1957. With a combined record of 7–7. Highest finish, 4th: 1957.
- NCAA Division II tournament appearances each year from 1975 to 1980. Highest finish, 3rd: 1976 and 1978.
- NCAA Division I tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).
- All time tournament results[11]
Women’s basketball
- NCAA Division I tournament appearance 1988.
Men's cross country
Team Championships:
- 1968 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1977 – NCAA Division II National Champions
National Finishes:
- 1971 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
- 1972 – NCAA Division II Seventh Place
- 1973 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1974 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1975 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1976 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1978 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
- 1979 – NCAA Division II Third Place
Football
- 1978 Division II National Champion
- 1980 Division II National Runner-Up.
- NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament appearances: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015.
- Conference Titles: 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1948, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013
- All time tournament results[12]
| Year | First Round Home Team | First Round Away Team | Second Round Home | Second Round Away | Quarterfinal Home | Quarterfinal Away | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 OT | Eastern Illinois | 16 | Jackson Tigers | 13 | Tennessee State | 20 | Eastern Illinois | 19 | ||||
| 1983 2OT | Indiana State | 16 | Eastern Illinois | 13 | ||||||||
| 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 28 | Murray State | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 22 | Eastern Kentucky | 24 | ||||
| 1989 | Idaho | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 38 | Montana | 25 | Eastern Illinois | 19 | ||||
| 1995 | Stephen F. Austin | 34 | Eastern Illinois | 29 | ||||||||
| 1996 | Northern Iowa | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 14 | ||||||||
| 2000 | Montana | 45 | Eastern Illinois | 13 | ||||||||
| 2001 | Eastern Illinois | 43 | Northern Iowa | 49 | ||||||||
| 2002 | Western Illinois | 48 | Eastern Illinois | 9 | ||||||||
| 2005 | Eastern Illinois | 6 | Southern Illinois | 21 | ||||||||
| 2006 | Eastern Illinois | 13 | Illinois State | 24 | ||||||||
| 2007 | Southern Illinois | 30 | Eastern Illinois | 11 | ||||||||
| 2009 | Southern Illinois | 48 | Eastern Illinois | 7 | ||||||||
| 2012 | South Dakota State | 58 | Eastern Illinois | 10 | ||||||||
| 2013 | Bye | Bye | Eastern Illinois | 51 | Tennessee State | 10 | Eastern Illinois | 39 | Towson | 49 | ||
| 2015 | Northern Iowa | 53 | Eastern Illinois | 17 | ||||||||
Men’s golf
National Finishes:[13]
- 1969 - NAIA 4th Place
- 1972 - NAIA 8th Place
Individual National Champions:[14]
- 1972 - Gaylord Burrows - NAIA
Soccer
Men's soccer
Women’s soccer
The Panther women’s soccer team has appeared in four NCAA Division I Women's Soccer tournaments in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.[15]
Softball
The Panther softball team appeared in two AIAW Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.[16] They reached their first NCAA Division I softball tournament in 2023.
Men’s swimming and diving
National Finishes:
- 1975 - NCAA Division II 3rd Place
Individual National Champions:[17]
- 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
- 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
- 1973 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
- 1973 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Dan Cole, Dave Toler)
- 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
- 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
- 1974 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
- 1974 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Brian Forsberg, Dave Toler)
- 1975 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
Track and field
Team Championships (men's):
- 1974 – NCAA Division II Outdoor National Champions
- 1976 — NCAA Division II Outdoor National Runner-up
Individual Champions:
- 1955 – Ray White, NAIA Long Jump
- 1967 – John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump
- 1969 – John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump
- 1972 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
- 1973 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
- 1974 – Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump
- 1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump
- 1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump
- 1976 – Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash
- 1979 – Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
- 1981 — 4x400 Relay, Women’s Track & Field AIAW II
- 1981 – Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
- 1988 – Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)
- 1992 – Dan Steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdles
Volleyball
The Eastern Illinois volleyball team has been the Ohio Valley Conference champions in 1998, co champions in 2004, and 2023. The volleyball team has made two NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament appearances in 2001 and 2023.[18]
Athletic facilities
Current facilities
Facilities are housed on the west side of the EIU campus between 4th Street and Grant Avenue.[19]
- Coaches Stadium at Monier Field — Baseball
- Darling Courts — Men's and women's tennis
- Lakeside Field — Men's and women's soccer
- Lantz Arena — Men's and women's basketball, Volleyball
- Lantz Field House — Men's and women's indoor track and field
- O’Brien Field — Football, Men's and women's outdoor track and field
- Ray Padovan Pool — Men's and women's swimming and diving
- Tom Woodall Panther Trail — Men's and women's cross country
- Williams Field — Softball
Men's and women's golf practice at four local courses including Charleston Country Club, Mattoon Country Club, Meadowview Golf Course and Bent Tree Golf Course.[20]
Former facilities
- Pemberton Hall — Men’s Basketball
- McAfee Gymnasium — Men’s Basketball
- Schahrer Field — Football (1899–1948)[21][22]
Club and intramural facilities
- Student Rec Center — Intramural sports
Notable former athletes
Baseball
- Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
- Zach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielder
- Randy Myers, former American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays between 1985 and 1998. 4x MLB All-Star.
- Marty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher for the California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals
- Stan Royer, MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox[23]
- Kevin Seitzer, retired all-star Major League Baseball player[24]
Basketball
- Henry Domercant, former professional basketball player in Europe
- Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
- Kyle Hill, former professional basketball player in Europe
- Jay Taylor, former NBA player for the New Jersey Nets
Football
- Brad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
- Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders
- Jeff Gossett, former NFL punter for the LA/Oakland Raiders and 3 other NFL teams
- Kamu Grugier-Hill, linebacker for the Miami Dolphins
- Alexander Hollins, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
- John Jurkovic, former NFL Defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tim Kelly offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans
- Ray McElroy, former NFL Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears
- Sean Payton, head coach of the Denver Broncos and winner of Super Bowl XLIV
- Ted Petersen, retired NFL Offensive/Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts
- Tony Romo, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and now a sportscaster
- Micah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football League
- Mike Shanahan, former head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins and 3 times Super Bowl winner.
- Chris Szarka, retired Canadian Football League fullback
- Pierre Walters, former NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
Handball
- Tim Dykstra, former handball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.[25]
MMA
- Matt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight Champion
- Kenny Robertson, 4x NCAA Division I qualifier for wrestling; current mixed martial artist for the UFC
- Mike Russow, current mixed martial artist
- Matt Veach, current mixed martial artist
Rugby
- Lauren Doyle, represented the United States of America for Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Soccer
- Schellas Hyndman, former head coach of soccer's FC Dallas[26]
- Matt Bobo, former North American Soccer League player
- John Baretta, former North American Soccer League goalkeeper
- George Gorleku, former Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92) player
- LeBaron Hollimon, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
- Damien Kelly, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
- Mark Simpson, former goalkeeper and assistant coach for D.C. United
- Jason Thompson, former player for D.C. United
- Glen Tourville, former Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92) player
Track
- John Craft, placed 5th in the Men’s triple jump at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Sandy Osei-Agyemang, advanced to the second round in the Men's 100 metres and Men's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Dan Steele, track All-American, 400-meter National Champion, and Bronze Medalist at the 2002 Winter Olympics[27]
- Darrin Steele, competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics[28]
References
External links
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